Buddleja plant named ‘Podaras #8’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Buddleja  plant named ‘Podaras #8’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely flowering habit; sterile violet blue-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Buddleja davidii×Buddleja alternifolia.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PODARAS #8’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Buddleja plant, botanically known as Buddleja davidii×Buddleja alternifolia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Podaras #8’.

The new Buddleja plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Ithaca, N.Y. The objective of the breeding program was to create new compact and sterile Buddleja plants with unique and attractive flower coloration.

The new Buddleja plant originated from a self-pollination on Jul. 12, 2006 in Ithaca, N.Y., of an unnamed selection of Buddleja davidii×Buddleja alternifolia, not patented. The new Buddleja plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated self-pollination in a controlled environment in Ithaca, N.Y. in August, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Buddleja plant by cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in West Chicago, Ill. since February, 2008, has shown that the unique features of this new Buddleja plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Buddleja have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Podaras #8’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Podaras #8’ as a new and distinct Buddleja plant:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely flowering habit.     -   3. Sterile violet blue-colored flowers.     -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Buddleja differ from plants of the parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Buddleja are more compact, denser and         rounder than plants of the parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Buddleja have more inflorescences and         smaller flowers than plants of the parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Buddleja and the parent selection differ in         flower color as plants of the parent selection have dark         purple-colored flowers with white-colored centers and         orange-colored throats.

Plants of the new Buddleja can be compared to plants of Buddleja davidii ‘Petite Indigo’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Buddleja and ‘Petite Indigo’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Buddleja were more compact, denser and more         uniform than plants of ‘Petite Indigo’.     -   2. Plants of the new Buddleja were more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Petite Indigo’.     -   3. Plants of the new Buddleja and ‘Petite Indigo’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Petite Indigo’ had light         purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Buddleja plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Buddleja plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Podaras #8’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Podaras #8’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Arroyo Grande, Calif. under commercial practice during the summer in 12.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse with day temperatures averaging 21° C. and night temperatures averaging 7° C. Plants were pinched two times and were one year old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Buddleja davidii×Buddleja alternifolia     ‘Podaras #8’. -   Parentage: Self-pollination of an unnamed selection of Buddleja     davidii×Buddleja alternifolia, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots plant, summer.—About two weeks at             temperatures of 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots plant, winter.—About two to three             weeks at temperatures of 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures of 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About three to four             weeks at temperatures of 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fine; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Deciduous perennial shrub; upright and             outwardly spreading plant habit; broad inverted triangle;             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 32 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 35 cm by 44 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Quantity: About seven main branches per             plant. Length: About 30 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Internode             length: About 2.7 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture, developing             stems: Lanulose. Texture, mature stems: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, developing: Close to 199C. Color, mature: Close to             195B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 3.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Dentate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Lanulose.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Tomentose.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N138B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 191B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 189A; venation,             close to 191B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 191C; venation, close to 191D.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Lanulose. Color, upper             surface: Close to 191D. Color, lower surface: Close to 192B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single rotate and salverform flowers             arranged in compound terminal and axillary panicles; flowers             face upright and outward; panicles roughly conical in shape;             freely flowering habit with about 72 flower buds and flowers             developing per inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—Faint, sweet.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about three             months after planting; flowering continuous from spring             until frost in California.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about three to four             days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Oblong. Color: Close to 90B.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 5.4 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3.3 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Flower throat, diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Flower tube, length.—About 8 mm.         -   Flower tube, diameter at base.—About 2 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically four in a single             whorl; petals fused into a narrow tube. Lobe length: About             5 mm. Lobe width: About 4 mm. Lobe shape: Roughly spatulate.             Lobe apex: Rounded. Lobe margin: Erosulate, crinkled.             Texture, upper and lower lobe surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Texture, throat: Slightly pubescent. Texture, tube: Slightly             pubescent. Color: Developing petals, upper surface: Close to             90B. Developing petals, lower surface: Close to 90C to 90D.             Fully expanded petals, upper surface: Close to 93C; towards             the throat, close to 91D; venation, close to 93C; color             becoming closer to 97A with development. Fully expanded             petals, lower surface: Close to 91B to 91C; venation, close             to 91B. Throat: Close to 171A; venation, close to 171A.             Tube: Close to 183D; venation, close to 183D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically four in a single             whorl, fused towards the base; campanulate calyx. Length:             About 2 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to 148D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: Erect to about 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Lanulose. Color: Close to 195C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:             About 45° from peduncle axis. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Lanulose. Color: Close to 191C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             four; filaments adnate to the corolla tube. Filament length:             About 1.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 171A. Anther shape:             Lanceolate. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close             to 201A. Pollen amount: None. Pistils: Quantity per flower:             One. Pistil length: About 3 mm. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma             color: Close to 144A. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color:             Close to 145D. Ovary color: Close to 144A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Flowers of plants of the new Buddleja are             sterile and seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Buddleja have been not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Buddleja. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Buddleja have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 0° C. to about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Buddleja plant named ‘Podaras #8’ as illustrated and described. 